Acetylene-gas generator



Jan. 14, 1930. G. GRIPP 1,743,541

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed March 23,, 1927 Inventor Gaazav Gr/pp Allomcy Patented Jan. 14, 1930 PATET rice GUSTAV GRIPZE', OF GLARKSTON,WASHINGTON ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR Application filed March 23, 1927.

My present invention relates to an improved acetylene gas generatorwhich while adapted for use in various other ways is especially designedfor domestic use in providing a continuous supply of gas for lightingand cooking purposes in a dwelling.

The generator is of that type using a carbide feed to a water chamberand the feed is controlled by a rotary carrier designed to measure andcontrol the feed of successive charges to the charge-feeding hopper.From the charge-feeding hopper the measured charge of calcium carbide isfed. to the water chamber and means are provided for regulating andcontrolling this feed of calcium carbide to the water in the waterchamber.

Automatic means co-acting with the gas bell or reservoir are providedfor operating the charge forming device or carrier and also forcontrolling the feed of a charge of carbide to the water chamber fordissolution and formation of gas.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined andarranged in ac- 3 cord with the best mode I have thus far devised forthe practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of the generator with some partsin elevation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view at line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view at line 38 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I utilize the customary outside shell orcylinder 1 having the water chamber 2 in its bottom for the dissolutionof the calcium carbide fed thereto in measured charges, and a removablelid 3 is provided for the outside cylinder in which all the operatingparts are contained.

\Vithin the outer or main cylinder is contained a second smallercylinder 4 with its wall spaced from the larger cylinder walls to formthe annular space 5 forming a water seal for the generator, the bottomof this space Serial No. 177,600.

being closed by the horizontal flange 4 of the inner cylinder.

The lower open end or edge of the bell 6 extends down into the waterseal in the space 5 to prevent escape of the generated gas from the gaschamber or reservoir 7 in the upper closed end of the bell, and aflexible pipe or hose 8 is attached at the top of the gas reservoir.This hose is carried on the top of the bell in the top portion of themain cylinder and one end is provided with a nipple 9, projectingthrough an opening in the inwall of the main cylinder, to which the gassupply pipe may be attached to convey the generated gas toits place ofconsumption.

Within the upper open end of the inner shell an open top cylindricalcarbide hopper 10 is suspended by hooks 11 that engage over the top edgeof the inner shell as seen in Figure 1.

The calcium carbide is furnished to the hopper in suitable quantitiesand at regular intervals, or when required, and at its lower end thecylindrical hopper is fashioned with a tapered bottom portion 12 inwhich an inclined guide plate 13 is provided to direct the materialtoward the opening 1-1 in the conical bottom of the hopper. Above thisopening a conical or tapered shield 12 is centrally located in the lowerportion of the hopper to prevent undue weight at the central opening 14:by supporting the load of the carbide at the center of the hopper. Thecarbide of course falls by gravity toward the opening 14 over theprojecting edge of the conical shield or deflector 12.

Below the opening 14 is located a flipper chute or charge chute 15pivoted to the hopper at 16, with its free end resting on the topportion of a rotary carrier 17 which measures and forms charges of thecarbide and controls the feed of these measured charges to the waterchamber of the generator. The rotary receiver is fashioned with acorrugated wall that forms pockets 18 and the carrier is provided with acentral longitudinally extending shaft 19 ournaled in bearings in'theends of hangers or brackets 20 secured at their upper ends to the outerfaces of the conical bottom 12 of the carbide hopper. The

free end of the flipper chute or charge forming chute, it will beapparent, rests upon the carrier as indicated in Figure 3 and successivecharges are deposited in the pockets of V the carrier as the latterrotates on its shaft, the free end of the chute at all timesv resting onthe top of the carrier.

feeding hopper is provided with a conical or V of the tapered part ofthe hopper (23) 1s water in the water chamber2 below.

The charge forming, rotary-carrier is enclosed by a charge-feedinghopper in the form of acylinder 21 supported by pins 22 below the mainhopper 12, and this chargetapered feed end or bottom 23 into Which thecharges of carbide fall from 'the rotary carrier,. and when an opening24 in the bottom V which of course rises as the gas accumulates in thegas reservoir, but when the gas supply reaches a minimum point and thereservoir or bell falls to a certain location the charge forming carrieris operated to empty a charge or charges into the discharge hopper 23and the valve 25 is opened to permit the carbide from the'dischargehopper to pass through the opening 24 and fall into the water for thegeneration of an additional supply of gas. This automatic operation ofthe carrier and valve are accomplished through the movement of anoperating frame comprising a pair of spaced, vertical, parallel rods 26and 27 that are rigidly joined at the top by means of a cross rod or bar28 and bolts or'nuts. A. spring 29 interposed between thecross bar andthe top of the stationary feed hopper tends to hold the frame inuplifted position to close the valve and prevent rotation of thecarrier, but the weight of the falling bell overcomes the strength ofthe spring to depress thisframe.

The two vertical rods of the operating frame are guided as theyreciprocate in tubu larguides 30, 3O rigidly fixed to the feed hopper atthe tapered bottom and they extend upwardly and through the open top ofthe hopper, so that the frame may normally project above the top of thehopper. The rods are spaced. at the sides of the vertical central axisof the main feed hopper and therod 26 terminates at its lower endadjacent the rotary carrier. On the end of this rod is carried a rackbar 31 pivoted at 32 to the rod,

falls or is pressed downwardly by the weight bar 31 to engage and turnthe ratchet wheel,

thus turning over or rotating the charge forming or feeding carrier toempty one or more of its pockets of carbide into the discharge hopper.

On the lower end of therod 27 a horizontal arm 34 is provided which islocated in the discharge hopper and projects to a central point'on thevertical axis of the discharge hopper beneath the rotary carrier andabove the valve 25. The stem 35 of the valve has an eye thereon whichslips over the end of the horizontal arm 34, and it will be apparentthat as the operating frame 'is depressed by the weight of the bell, thevalve is dropped to open position to permit the measured care bide inthe discharge hopper to pass into the water in the water chamber. Whenthe gas generated is of sufiicient volume to lift the bell from pressureon the operating frame,

the spring 29 lifts the frame, to normal posh tion to be again depressedfor further replen ishing the supply of gas. n

If it is desired to provide a charge of carbide measured to an exactamount a weighted tipping receptacle 36 may be mounted direct ly belowthe rotary carrier 17. This receptacle is in the form of a scoop mountedon an arm 37 pivoted at 38 and having a threaded extension 39 carryingan adjustable weight y 40 likewise threaded and havin a set screw 41 tolock it in a fixed position w en set. v The scoop 36 will receiveapredetermined charge of carbide from the carrier 17 and when the weightof the carbide overbalances the weight 40 the whole charge will betipped at one time and fiow'into the hopper 23 and through into thewater chamber 2. 4

:Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V I Anacetylene gas generator comprising a feed hopper, a rotary chargeforming carrier having a succession of horizontal pockets therein, aflipper chutepivoted at the outlet opening of the hopper with its freeend resting on the wall of a pocket of the carrier, a bell, a verticallyreciprocal frame adapted to engage and be operated by said bell, saidframe including a rod and guide therefor, a

pivoted rack on said rod, a shaft for the car- 7 rier, and a rack wheelon said shaft for coaction with the rack bar.

. In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature.

GUSTAV GRIPP.

and this rack bar is in positionto co-act with r a toothed ratchet wheel33 on the shaft 19 of the rotary carrier. Thus, as the frame

